Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he is abolishing Comhar, The Sustainable Development Council; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is considerable concern that environmental and sustainable development policy is being sidelined by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28223/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the costs of Comhar, The Sustainable Development Council, in 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together.

Integrating sustainable development principles into economic and social sectoral policies and programmes remains a core objective for me and the Government. This is evidenced by, inter alia, the commitment to publishing a renewed National Sustainable Development Strategy for public consultation later this year. Our unprecedented economic constraints challenge us to find new ways of working that deliver the same or better results while at the same time ensuring the most efficient use of reduced public resources and avoiding duplication of effort. This includes the ongoing review, and, where appropriate, rationalisation of the role and functions of bodies under the aegis of my Department.

While I greatly value the significant body of work undertaken by Comhar Sustainable Development Council over the past decade, there is a need to reorganise the existing arrangements for the delivery of the sustainable development agenda. There are now a number of platforms to achieve this, including through the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Green Economy. Recent years have also seen an environmental pillar recognised within Social Partnership and environmental representation is now an established component of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).

I believe that there are significant overlaps between the relative roles of Comhar and the NESC in relation to sustainable development. Integrating these roles within the NESC offers the most effective means of achieving the mainstreaming of environmental considerations. Therefore, it has been decided that Comhar should be discontinued and wound down by the end of the year.

I am satisfied that the transition from Comhar to the NESC is necessary and appropriate. Critical issues including the new sustainable development strategy, evolving climate policy, and research and debate to inform Ireland's evolution to a low carbon economy will be given appropriate priority within the NESC policy function. This will build on the work already undertaken by Comhar and will underpin the strategic value of sustainable development policy by centralising it within the NESC structure. I will provide dedicated funding to NESC to support its enhanced role in relation to sustainable development. My Department and NESC are discussing the approach to research capacity and how that might best be taken forward in the context of developing a sustainable development work programme.

The funding provided by my Department to Comhar in the past three years was as follows:

2008 - €673,880.24

2009 - €465,331.66

2010 - €390,874.46